The Spanish company hoping to build its first U.S. wind energy parts manufacturing plant in Amarillo operates 10 such factories in six countries around the world.
GRI Renewable Industries has pledged to invest $41 million to build an Amarillo plant that would employ at least 300 people and make about 400 wind towers a year.

In August, Hilmar Cheese announced it was expanding its capacity by 20 percent, pushing production to more than 1 million pounds of cheese per day. On Wednesday, the company said it will increase capacity at its Dalhart facility by another 20 percent.
“We currently process about 220 truckloads of milk each day. This will increase capacity by 40 truckloads per day,” said Denise Skidmore, director of education and spokeswoman for the company.
The company completed its most recent expansion this year.
Hilmar started building the plant near Dalhart in 2005 and went into production in 2007. It has expanded several times since then, doubling production in 2010 and adding capabilities since then, like enhancing water conservation and recycling.
Work on the expansion should be finished next year. The cost of the construction is confidential, but Skidmore said in August the company had invested more than $250 million since it began the plant.
“Texas continues to be a great place to invest in cheese processing with plenty of available milk and a very stable, regulated milk pricing environment,” said David Ahlem, chief operating officer.

Governor Greg Abbott today announced that GRI Renewable Industries, the industrial wind division of Spanish-based Gonvarri Steel Industries, plans to build a new manufacturing plant in Amarillo, Texas. The plant, which will manufacture renewable wind energy components, is projected to create over 300 new jobs and $41 million in capital investment in the State of Texas. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant offer of $1.85 million has been extended to GRI.

Hilmar Cheese Company was recognized this week by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy as the Outstanding Dairy in Processing & Manufacturing Sustainability. Based in the Central Valley of California, Hilmar Cheese also has a state-of-the-art facility in Dalhart, Texas.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Japan for V-22B Block C Osprey aircraft and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $3 billion.

The Perryman Group, an economic and financial analysis firm, recently released their short-term economic forecast for Texas. Despite recent job losses in the oil exploration sectors, Perryman feels that the economic diversity of the State will help to lessen the overall financial impact as was witnessed in the 1980's.

Policom’s 2015 Economic Strength Rankings are in and Amarillo is ranked #127 of the 381 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the US and #10 of the 24 MSA’s in Texas. Amarillo’s ranking is up 10 points from #137 in 2014 and #310 in 2004 as the quality of the local economy continues to improve.